Take-up mechanism



June 15, 1948. G, F, OWENS 2,443,267

TAKE-UP v MECHANISM Filed June 13, 1946 2 Sheets$heet 2 Gamer E Owens,

Patented June 15, 1948 TAKE-UP MECHANISM Gunner F. Owens, Ellwood City, Pm, assignor to Mathews Conveyer Company, Ellwood City, Pa, a corporation of'Pennsylvania Application June 13, 1946, Serial No. 167 6,530

12 Claims.

This invention relates to take-up mechanisms such as are used to adjust the tension or slack in a conveyer a beltya chain, or other continuous element.

There are in general use several different types One of the more popu lar conveyer take-up devices has two parallel of take-up mechanisms.

screws on a supporting base with a bearing rest- .i'ng'on the base and adjustable along the screws.

Usuall nuts on the screws are adjusted to secure the bearing in proper position.

In adjusting take-up mechanisms of this type,

care must be exercised toavoid misalignment of the take-up bearings and also to prevent jamming-of the bearings on the take-up screws.

It is a majorobject of the present invention to provide an improved take-up mechanism which will :permit a shaft to run free even when the "bearings are misaligned.

:An importantobject of the invention is to provide an improved take-up mechanism in which the bearing will not jam on the screws during adjustment operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a take-up mechanism in which the bearing is securely held'in any adjusted position but may longitudinally of the screws.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig.1. is a side elevation of a take-up mechanism embodying the invention as applied to a Fig.2 is a top plan view of the'apparatus shown LinFig. i1;

.Fig. 3 is a vertical section through thetake-up mechanism showing a bearing member which may be @used in one form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 .o'f-Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. .3 but showing .a modified bearing member which may be used in the take-up mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. .6 "is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.5;

Fig. 7 is aside elevation showing a modified form of a take-up mechanism embodying the invention as applied to a conveyer; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line a l-.8 ofFig. 1.

According to the invention in its preferred form, a bearing member for the take-up shaft rests on a -baseand is slidably guided along two screws .arrangedparallel to the base. Guideways formed in the bearing member cooperate with the screws to prevent turning movements of the bearing member about an axis paraliel to the guiding screws or :an axis normal to the plane of the screws, but permit the bearing member to turn about an axis normal to both screws. This enables the bearing to remain coaxial with a similar bearing -at the other end of the take-up shaft, even though the two bearing members become misaligned.

screws and .has a surface arranged to engage a surface on thebearing member. Preferably, at

least one of these abutting surfacesis rounded to provide continuous engagement during relat-ive movements of the bearing and the abutment members. Nuts on the screws may be adjusted to hold the abutment as Well as the bearing in thedesired position. The abutment member may have guideways cooperating with the screws to prevent turning movements about axes in the plane of the screws but at the same time permit the abutment member to turn about an aXis nor- .malto the-plane 0f the screws. In this way, the abutment .member may be adjusted over a considerable distance by turning a nut on one of the screws without the danger of jamming the abutment on the screws as it turns about an axis normal to the plane of the screws.

Ina modifiedform of a bearing member which may be used, the :lower surface of the member which rests on thebase is rounded and the guideways are arranged to permit the bearing member to turn about an axis parallel to the two screws as well as about an axisnormal to the two screws. Thus, the bearing member will automatically turn to remain coaxial with the shaft during both vertical'and horizontal misalignment conditions of the bearing members at opposite ends of the shaft.

In some cases, particularly in reversible or inclined conveyers, it .is desirable to secure the bearing members against movement in either direction longitudinally of the screws. The abutment member described above will hold the bearing in position against the normal pull of the conveyer. However, particularly in the case of inclined conveyers, a reversal of direction of the drive, may tend to move the bearing away from the abutment member. To prevent this undesired movement, a sec-nd abutment member may be placed on the opposite side of the bearing member.

For purposes of illustration, the invention is shown in the drawings as applied to a take-up mechanism for a belt conveyer. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the framework of the conveyer isdesignated generally at H and includes a pair of horizontal flanges l2 and I3 for supporting the two take-up mechanisms arranged at opposite sides of a take-up shaft 14. The shaft [4 carries a drum 15 supporting one end of a continuous conveyer belt l6, which may be driven from any suitable source of power. In this case the take-up mechanism is for the purpose of adlustingv the tension or slack in the conveyer belt As shown particularly in Fig. l, the take-up mechanism has a base 2! resting on the flange 12 of the frame II and secured thereto as by bolts 22, 22. Extending vertically upwardly from the horizontal base it are a pair of spaced supporting arms 23 and 24 rigidly mounted on the base 2! and reinforced by plates 25 and 26. Extending between the spaced supporting arms 23 and 24 are a pair of guiding and adjusting screws 21 and 28 (Fig, 1), securely and rigidly held in parallel relation to the base by heads 3| and 32 which engage the supporting members 23 and opposed nuts 33 and 34, and 35 and 36 which engage opposite faces of the supporting member 24,

A take-up bearing member 31 has its lower surface 38 resting on upper surface 39 of the base 2i and is slidable along the screws 21 and 28. The bearing member 31 may be provided with a bearing insert 4| of suitable material for rotatably supporting the conveyer shaft. As shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the bearing member 31 is formed with guideways in the form of holes 43 and 44 having their walls arranged to surround the screws 21 and 28 which serve as guide rails for the bearing member. The walls of the guideways 43 and 44 form a circle at the center portion 45 of the bearing member to snugly-fit the outer dimensions of the screws and prevent rotation of the bearin member about an axis parallel to the screws, The horizontal walls 46 and 41 snugly fit the screws 21 and 28 throughout the length of the bearing member to prevent turning of the bearing member about the axis of the bearing insert 4|; that is, about an axis normal to the plane of the screws 21 and 28. However, to permit the bearing member to turn slightly about an axis normal to the screws 2'? and 28, the walls of the guideways 43 and 44 are flared in a lateral direction toward the ends of the bearing member, as shown at 48 and 49 in Figs. 3 and 4. 1

Since the bearing member 31 rests upon the base 21, the load on the-conveyer is transmitted from the shaft I4 through the bearing member 31 to the base. Guldeways 43 and 44 cooperate with screws 21 and 28 to guide the bearin member 31 as it is slidably adjusted longitudinally of the screws. The walls of the guideways shown in igs. 3 and 4 permit the bearing 31 to turn about an axis normal to the two screws 21 and28, but restrain the bearing member against other turning movements.

bearing member 31 permits it to remain coaxial This turning movement of the 4 with the shaft 14 and a corresponding bearing member 31' On the opposite end of the shaft even though the two bearing members are horizontally misaligned. In such a case, the shaft I4 is angularly disposed with respect to the conveyer frame il. In some instances, such an arrangement of the shaft is essential due to distortions in the belt or variations in other parts of theapparatus. In Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a modified form of bearing member which is similar in most respects to the bearing member shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and like parts bear corresponding reference numerals. This modified bearing member may turn about an axis parallel to the two screws 21 and 28 as well as about an axis normal to these two screws. This is accomplished by rounding resting surface 38' so it will rest firmly on the base 21 even though the bearing member is turned. about an axis parallel to the screws 21 and 28. The walls of guideways 43 and 44' are not flared, but have a uniform cross section.

As was the case of the bearing member shown in- Fig. 3 closely spaced horizontal walls 46 and 41' snugly fit the screws 21 and 28. More widely spaced walls 5! and 52 which extend throughout the length of the bearing and, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6, form a guideway have a uniform cross section elongated in a horizontal direction throughout its length to permit the bearing member to turn about an axis parallel to the screws 21 and 28. Of coursethe bearing member may also turn about an axis normal to the two screws in the same manner as the bearing member shown in Fig. 3.

For the purpose of adjustably positioning the bearing member 31 longitudinally along screws 21 and 28 to control the slack or tension in the'belt I6, an abutment member 54 may have a rounded lower end 53 resting on the'base 2| and be formed with guideways 55 and 56 to slidably guide the abutment member 54 on the screws 21 and 28. The abutment member 54 is formed with a boss 51 which preferably has a spherically rounded surface 58 for engaging the bearing 31. As shown in Fig. 1, the bearing member has a cylindrically rounded surface 59 for engagement with the spherical surface 58 of the abutment member.

The major purpose of these rounded surfaces is to maintain firm contact between the bearing member 31 and theabutment member 54 during the abutment member 54 has its guiding holes '55 and 56 formed with a, vertically elongated uniform cross section so it may. turn about an axis normal to the plane of the two screws. Obviously, a rounded abutment surface on either the bearing member 31 or the abutment'member 54 would permit the described relative movement between these two members and at the same time maintain contact between the abutting surfaces. Bearing members are usually formed wi-th straight walls or cylindrically rounded walls, so]: prefer toprovide a spherically rounded abutting surface on the abutment member.

To adjust the abutment member 54 as well as the bearing member 31 longitudinally of the screws 27 and 28, a pair of nuts GI and 62are threaded on the screws 21 and 28 and have spherical portions 63 and 64 engaging washers'65 and '65 which in turn fit against the face of the abutment member 54. It will be .apparent that either-of the nuts BI or 62 may be turned to move the abutment member '54 a considerable distance over the screws 21 and 28. When only one nut is turned, the abutmentmember 54 becomes angularly disposed as shown in dotted lines (Fig. 1), but does not jam on the screws 21 and 28 because the vertically elongated guideways 55 and .56 permit limited turning movement about an axis normal to the plane of the screws. Furthermore, the rounded lower end 53 permits the abutment member to rest on th-ebase 21 in all'angular poslums, and the spherical nuts operate smoothly even though the abutment member is not properly aligned.

In operation, take-up mechanisms are assembled on opposite sides of a conveyor frame so bearing members 31 and .31 may support take-up shaft H. 'To begin the take-up adjustment, either side of the shaft may be used. Assuming the upper nut 6| on screw 2 is first turned in a direction to tighten the belt 51, that is, move the bearing '31 toward the left (Fig.2), the abutment member will move the bearing member 3'! as well as the-shaft it in a direction to tighten the belt -l B. When this occurs, the-abutment member becomes angularly disposed so it slants upwardly toward the-left as seen in Fig. l, but the spherical surface 58 will maintain contact with the bearing-member 31 and the rounded end 53 will continue to rest on the base 21. At the same time the shaft 16 becomes angularly disposed because the lower end, as seen in Fig. 2, is moved toward the left. However, the shaft M will continue to run freely because the bearing members 3'! and 31 may turn in a -clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 2, about an axis normal to the two screws on which they are guided. Without affecting the operation-of the conveyer belt 16, the drum I5, or the shaft M,the lower nut 62 may now be adjusted to reset the position of the abutment 5 and at the "same time'move the bearing member 31 further to the left. Next, nut '61 on the other side of the conveyor may be adjusted to move abutment .member '54 and bearing member 31' toward the .1

left in a direction to restore alignment of hearing members 31 and 3-1. Continued movement of the abutment member 54' may be had until the bearing member 31' is moved further to the left than'the bearing member 31. not aflf-ect'free running of the shaft M becausethe bearing members 37 and 31 may turn in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. .2, about axes normal to screws 21 and 28.

.By using a bearing member such as is shosvn r in Figs. 5 and 6, fabrication of the conveyor may be facilitated because it is not essential that the take-up mechanisms on opposite sides of the conveyer frame be in exact vertical alignment. One of these mechanisms may be higher than the other and in such cases the bearing members on both sides of the conveyor will turn about axes parallel to their adjusting screws so the bearing inserts and the shaft 14 will remain coaxial even though the bearing members themselves are misaligned vertically.

As has been previously stated, reversible or inclined conveyers require the take-up shaft M to be secured against movement along the screws 21 and 28 in either direction. The abutment member '54, already described, acts against the normal tension of the belt I6 to prevent movement of the bearing member 31 and the shaft I 4 to the right as seen in Fig. 1. In order to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft l4 toward the left,

Even this will a second abutment member 3:! "may be arranged, as shown in Fig. 7, on one side of the bearing member 31 opposite to the :abutment c'member 'id. The abutment member Ti is provided with a rounded abutting portion 12 and has adjusting nuts-13 and M operating in the same manner as adjustingnuts BI and "62 already described.

During adjustment of 'the'abutment member 54, :nuts v73 .and .14 are preferably turn-ed along the threads of screws '21 and 28 so they will be near the extreme left of the mechanism shown in Fig. '7. After the abutment member '54 is positioned to properly adjust "the slack or tensioncf the belt 16, the abutment member "ii is moved against the opposite side of bearing member *3! and secured thereby turning nuts 13 and 14 until they are tightened. The provision of a rounded abutting surface 12 permits the same melative movements of the bearing member .31 and both abutting members 54 and H .as have already been described in connection with the bearing member 3'! and the abutment member 54.

From theforegoing description of the constructicn and operation of my invention, it will be apparent that the take-up mechanism is of simple construction. The base 2| provides-a support on which the bearing member 31 rests to carry the load of the conveyer which is transmitted through shaft 14. The bearing member 3] slides along the base and is guided by screws .21 and 28. Guideways formedin the bearing member?! are so shaped to retrain all movements of the bearing member'except turning movements about an axis normal to the screws 21 and 28. This permits the shaft I4 to run free by retaining a coaxial relation between the hearings on opposite ends of the shaft. To permit free running of the shaft in the case of certain vertical misalignments of the bearing members 31 and 3'l'., the walls of the guideways'surrounding the screws Hand 28 may be shaped to permit movement of the bearing member about an axis parallel to the screws. These movements are free and independent of the position of adjusting nuts which merely act throughan abutment member 54 to effect proper positioning of the bearing member 31. The rounded abutting surface between the bearing member and the abutment member provides a continuing contact for various relative positions or movements between these members.

The construction is further simplified in that it requires few elements and is easily assembled. Adjustment of the take-up mechanism is facilitated because one of the adjusting nuts may be turned a considerable distance over the screw without causing jamming of the bearing member or the abutment member *on the screws. In this Way it is possible to turn one nut at a time and makes unnecessary former procedures of turning first one nut and then another over a very short distance or turning both nuts simultaneously.

The construction herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings is the preferred embodiment of the invention. As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, it is intended that the description and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. A take-up mechanism comprising a pair of spaced supporting arms, a pair of screws extending between said arms, a bearing member slidable along said screws, an abutment member slidable on said screws, and nuts on said screws 7 for adjustably fixing the position .or said abutment member to engage and retain said bearing member in fixed position.

2. A take-up mechanism comprising a pair of spaced arms, a pair of screws extending between said arms, a bearing member slidable along said screws, an abutment member adjustably positionable on said screws and having a surface for engaging a surface on said bearin member, at least one of said surfaces being rounded to permit relative. movement between said members while engaging the other surface.

3. A take-up mechanism comprising a base, a pair of screws supported parallel to said base, a bearing member resting on said base and formed with guideways having walls to guide said bearing member along said screws, said walls having their central portion snugly fitting said screws to restrain lateral movement but flared outwardly to permit turning .movement of said bearing member solely about an axis normal to said screws. 1

4. A take-up mechanism comprising a' base, a pair of spaced screws supported parallel to said base, a bearing member formed with guideways having walls loosely engaging said screws, said bearing member having a rounded surface restin on the base to permit movement of said bearing about an axis normalto the plane of said screws, and an abutment member adjustably positionable on said screws for engaging said bearing member.

5. A take-up mechanism comprising a pair of spaced parallel screws, a bearing member slidable along said screws, an abutment member formed with guideways having wallsloosely engaging said screws to sl-idably guide said abutment member on said screws andpermit. turning movement of the abutment member about an axis normal to the plane of said screws.

6. A take-upmechanism comprising a base, a pair of spaced parallel screws parallel to said base, a bearin member slidable along said screws, an abutment memberhaving a rounded end resting on said base and formed with gu'ideways having walls loosely engaging said screws to slidably guide said abutment member along said base and permit turning movement of the abutment member about an axis normal to the plane of said screws.

7. A take-up mechanism comprising a pair of spaced parallel screws, a bearing member slidable along said screws, an abutment member formed with guidewavs having walls loosely engaging said screws to slidablyguide said abutment member on said screws and permit turning movement of the abutment member about an axis normal to the plane of said screws, and nuts on said screws for adjustably fixing the pos-ition oi said abut.- ment member to engage and retain said bearing member in fixed position. r

8. A take-up mechanism comprising a pair of screws supported in spaced parallel relation, a bearing member slidable along said screws, an abutment member having a surface for engaging a surface on said bearing member, at least one of said surfaces being rounded topermit relative 6 movement between said abutment member and said bearing member, said abutment member being formed with guideways having walls loosely fitting said screws to permit turning movement of the abutment member about an axis normal to the plane of said screws, and nuts for adjustably fixing the position of said abutment member on said screws to engage and retain said bearing member in a fixed position.

9. A take-up mechanism comprising a base, a pair of spaced arms projecting from said base, a

pair of screws extending between said armsparallel to saidbase, a bearing member resting on said base and guided by said-screws for sliding movement between said arms, an abutment member sl'idably guided by said screws, and nuts on said screws for adjustably fixing the: position, of said abutment member to engage and retain said bearing member in fixed position. 10. A take-up mechanism comprising a base,a pair of arms projecting from said base, a pair of screws extending between said arms parallel to said base, a bearing member resting on said base and provided with guideways having walls loosely engaging the screws to permit movement of (said bearing member relative to said screws, and an abutment member formed with guideways having walls loosely engaging said screws to permit movement of the abutment member about anaxis normal to the plane of said screws.

l1.'A take-up mechanism comprising a base, a pair of arms projectin from said base, a pair of screws extending between said arms parallel to said base, a bearing member resting on1said base and provided with guideways havingwalls loosely engaging the screws to permit movement of said bearing member relative to saidscrews, an abutment member formed with guideways having walls loosely engaging said screws to permit movement of the abutment member about an axis normal to the plane of said screws, said abutment member being formed with a surface for engaging a surface on said bearing, member, at least one of said surfaces being rounded to permit relative movement between said members. 7

'12. In a take-up mechanism comprising a base, a pair of arms projecting from said base, a pair of screws extending between said arms parallel to said base, and a bearing member provided with guideways having walls loosely engaging the screws to permit movement of said bearing member relative to said screws, said bearing member having a, rounded surface resting on said base permitting movement of said member about an axis parallel to said screws.

GOMER F. OWENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are'of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

